40 Ye rs - Joyce Meyer Ministries
Transcription
ENJOYING E V E R Y D A Y L I F E JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES SPRING 2016 C E L E B R AT I N G 40 Years IN MINISTRY EEL 0316 1 Cover P.indd 1 SPRING 2016 / PAGE 1 / DOM 2/15/16 1:39 PM VOLUME 31 No 2 | SPRING 2016 Friends, I can’t believe it’s been forty years! And in those years, I’ve experienced many good times as well as some difficult ones—We all have. But God is always in control, and we can count on Him to take care of us no matter what our circumstances may be. Actually, the best way I know to stay peaceful is to forget about my own problems, and focus on how I can help someone else. As you read through this issue, I hope you’re encouraged by the stories of people whose lives have been changed through your giving. Because of your support, millions of people are learning about God’s love for them every day! We’re thankful for you, and we want you to know you’re making a difference. Contents 4 Joy in the Journey BLACK 8 “I Won’t Forget You” CYAN Celebrating 40 years of ministry, Dave and Joyce discuss milestones, funny moments, and how it all began. 13 You Can Stress Less By Ginger Stache The story of a seemingly insignificant encounter that changed lives. By Joyce Meyer Five ways to help manage stress and increase your peace. 29 Super Woman or Super Natural? Yellow Magenta By Christine Caine 8 See how being a woman of God equips you to be a superhero through Christ. “ …Let us not love [merely] in theory or in speech but in deed and in truth… ” —1 John 3:18 2 SPRING 2016 (800) 727-9673 / Canada (800) 868-1002 EEL 0316 2-3 SFTH TOC P.indd 2 SPRING 2016 — PAGE 2 — DOM 2/15/16 1:42 PM All Bible references are from The Amplified Bible, Classic Edition unless otherwise noted. In Canada: Publications Mail Agreement No. 41709522 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Joyce Meyer Ministries Canada P.O. Box 7700 Vancouver, BC V6B 4E2 (800) 868-1002 cpcreturns@wdsmail.com Enjoying Everyday Life® is published by Joyce Meyer Ministries, Inc.® , a nonprofit corporation, Fenton, MO USA © 2016 Joyce Meyer Ministries, Inc. Publications Agreement No. 41709522. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Enjoying Everyday Life has no subscription price and is supported through contributions worldwide. All gifts to this ministry are tax-deductible (in countries where this applies). Because all Enjoying Everyday Life issues are preplanned, we are unable to accept unsolicited manuscripts. For more information or to order, call locally (636) 349-0303 or toll-free (800) 727-9673. Internet address: www.joycemeyer.org Resource prices are in U.S. Funds unless otherwise noted. Enjoying Everyday Life is a registered trademark of Joyce Meyer Ministries, Inc. [J] is also a registered trademark of Joyce Meyer Ministries, Inc. Order online 24/7 at joycemeyer.org or by phone at (800) 727-9673 or (636) 3490303. Most major credit cards accepted. See enclosed form for details. Discounted offers expire July 31, 2016 (while supplies last) and are not available at conferences. Special offers cannot be combined for additional discounts; some offers may not be available outside the U.S. All prices are subject to change. PHOTOGRAPHERS 19 BLACK S Armstrong D Dobson M Matheny K McClure S Murphy E Sandeep C Spickler P Sukamar SHUTTERSTOCK IMAGES ACCOUNTABILITY At Joyce Meyer Ministries, we want you to be confident your gifts are being used in the best way possible. That’s why we are accredited by the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability. FINANCIAL PRACTICE Joyce Meyer Ministries is voluntarily audited each year by an independent public accounting firm. EEL 0316 2-3 SFTH TOC P.indd 3 SPRING 2016 — PAGE 3 — DOM 2/15/16 1:42 PM Yellow We Are Committed to Financial Accountability Magenta CYAN 8 Halfpoint 20 bikeriderlondon 20 Diego Cervo 20 Olha Palinchak 27 Kamenuka 32 Natalia Klenova 33 Paul Orr JOY JOURNEY IN THE D AV E & J OYC E C E L E B R AT E 4 0 Y E A R S O F M I N I ST RY IN 1976, when God spoke to Joyce’s heart that she would someday have “a large teaching tape ministry,” she could have only imagined what would happen over the next four decades. From a Bible study in their home…to airing on a few local radio stations…to eventually reaching a potential audience of two-thirds of the world through the Enjoying Everyday Life TV program, Dave and Joyce have watched the Lord use their ministry to bring help and healing to millions, including missions outreaches that now span the globe. They recently sat down to discuss ministry milestones, funny moments, how it all began, and the incredible things the Lord has done all along the way. 1 BLACK FORTY YEARS OF MINISTRY IS A LONG TIME. HOW DID IT ALL BEGIN? CYAN J JOYCE: Well, one day I was listening to a cassette teaching tape. It was 60 minutes long, and I was just amazed that anybody could get a whole hour of teaching out of one verse and keep my interest. Yellow Magenta So, at the end of that teaching, I was making my bed and doing housework, and I just sensed God putting a desire in my heart to teach the Word…and that I was going to go all over the world and teach, which of course in the natural was totally ridiculous. But truly, with God, all things are possible. EEL 0316 4-7 Main Feature P.indd 4 SPRING 2016 — PAGE 4 — DOM 2/15/16 2:39 PM 2 WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST STEP AFTER YOU KNEW GOD WAS CALLING YOU INTO MINISTRY? We always had about 25-30 people each Tuesday night. And they would come if it was snowing, raining…no matter what, they would come. Then a friend asked me to start a Bible study at her house on Thursday afternoon. So we did these Bible studies for five years. At the end of five years, I felt like God had directed me to stop the Bible study. I thought, It’s time for my promotion; something great’s gonna happen now. And so for one year, nothing happened. And that was a very confusing year. I can look back now and realize God taught me the importance of being myself. Because I was insecure, I didn’t like who I was and constantly tried to be somebody else, whether it was my pastor’s wife or my “homemaker” neighbor next door. During that year, I tried to have a garden and sew my family’s clothes...all these things God was not anointing me for. D She did sew a pair of shorts for me and that was a disaster. J (laughs) I remember, they were grey with dark grey piping around the edges. D The shorts had pockets longer than the shorts. I cut the pockets out. I should have kept the shorts. I burned them! J Well then in 1980, we began attending Life Christian Center, a start-up church. They asked me if I wanted to start a women’s Bible study. They advertised a little bit, and this was just a miracle from God: That first Thursday morning, 115 people came! After a while they asked me to come on staff, and the Bible study grew to about 500 people every week. 5 ENJOYING EVERYDAY LIFE joycemeyer.org EEL 0316 4-7 Main Feature P.indd 5 SPRING 2016 — PAGE 5 — DOM 2/15/16 2:40 PM BLACK J CYAN J DAVE: No, in the natural you didn’t, but you always had the gift to teach from the very beginning. And while Joyce was teaching, she was learning through the Word how to grow and deal with different problems in her own life. Then, the things she encountered she would teach to the people. 3 WHEN DID YOU BEGIN HOLDING WEEKLY WOMEN’S MEETINGS AT CHURCH? Magenta D I started a Bible study, and that’s kind of the way it began. But I didn’t know how to teach a Bible study, so I asked my pastor. He recommended a Thompson Chain Reference Bible and to start in the book of John. So that’s where I started: John chapter 1, verse 1. But I certainly wouldn’t have seemed like Bible teacher material, would I? Yellow J 6 IS THIS WHEN YOU BEGAN AIRING ON THE RADIO? J My pastor was on radio, and the slot next to him opened up, so he asked me if I wanted to do it. I started on WCBW in St. Louis, a fifteenminute radio slot once a week. After five years, in 1985, we knew it was time to leave Life Christian Church. The Lord had instructed us to “take the ministry north, south, east and west.” So we literally began holding meetings in North St. Louis, South St. Louis, East St. Louis and West St. Louis. At this point, we were running the ministry out of our home and had five or six people working for us. We had one person who would open mail and another to duplicate the cassette tapes. We had phones all around the house. We even had a guy who produced the radio program out of our son’s bedroom closet. I’m also raising kids—I have a baby, and I have teenagers. I’m coming home and Joyce is saying, “This is overwhelming, I can’t handle this.” Six months later, I quit my job to help full time with the ministry. I set up all the conferences, I did the payroll, and I bought all the radio time. D In the beginning, it was very difficult to get on stations because hardly anyone knew Joyce. But eventually the word got around that she was good, so it was easier. In the upcoming years, we grew to 150 stations. 5 BLACK WHEN DID YOU MAKE THE DECISION TO GO ON TELEVISION? CYAN D I’m thinking, There’s no way we can go on television. It costs too much.Then in kind of a vision I see this hand on a spigot, and God says “If I turn this off, you can’t even do what you’re doing now. But if I turn it up, you can do everything I ask you to do.” Magenta Yellow It was just out of the blue. One day I was getting ready to go to the office and all of a sudden the Lord opens up my heart to sense the hurts of the world. I’m sobbing, and God said, “I prepared you all this time to go on television.” I shared this with Joyce, and that’s when we decided to do it. The first program was so primitive— Joyce was literally teaching in front of a shower curtain for a backdrop! But it was the beginning of the television ministry, and now it’s just beyond anything we could have ever expected. 6 SPRING 2016 (800) 727-9673 / Canada (800) 868-1002 EEL 0316 4-7 Main Feature P.indd 6 GET MORE OF THE STORY! WATCH THE INTERVIEW WITH DAVE AND JOYCE AT JOYCEMEYER.ORG/40 SPRING 2016 — PAGE 6 — DOM 2/15/16 2:41 PM 6 7 YOU ARE THE CORE OF THIS MINISTRY, BUT WHO ARE SOME OF THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE SCENES WHO HELP MAKE IT POSSIBLE? D Without the partners, it would be a very small ministry, and it would not go very far. Without them, we might do about 15 percent of what we’re doing today. About 30 years ago, I had this growing desire to help people. So we started setting aside money to help the poor. We started right here in St. Louis, helping through inner-city ministry and contributing to other ministries. Then we started different missions and got involved with missionaries around the world. Now we’re involved in feeding programs, fresh water wells, medical missions and so many other things in about 150 different nations. It’s very, very important to me to be able to help people. You help people with the Word, but you also need to help them in a practical way. 8 BLACK PEOPLE ARE DRAWN TO YOUR AUTHENTICITY. HOW DO YOU KEEP THINGS SO BALANCED AND REAL? IT SEEMS LIKE YOU HAVE A LOT OF FUN. D Yeah, we do! It’s very important to enjoy each part of your life—not just the ministry or work part. And it’s especially important to enjoy your spouse if you’re married and allow them to be themselves. J I tell people all the time, I don’t know what I’d teach if I wasn’t married to Dave because he gives me an opportunity to apply every message that I’ve ever preached! But Dave and I both have a lot of fun in our relationship. And I know that it’s very important that we remember where we came from and that it’s God doing all of this. 7 ENJOYING EVERYDAY LIFE joycemeyer.org EEL 0316 4-7 Main Feature P.indd 7 SPRING 2016 — PAGE 7 — DOM 2/15/16 2:43 PM CYAN Then, we have our ministry partners who financially support the ministry, and every one of them is very important no matter what they give. We need them, and we’re all partners together in doing everything we do. J Magenta My name gets to be on it, but you can’t do it alone. We have wonderful leaders in the ministry. Our two sons, David and Daniel, pretty much run all the day-to-day stuff now. Both sons-in-law also work here and do a phenomenal job. We have about 650 employees worldwide with offices in nine different countries…and they’re all a part of this. Yellow J REACHING PEOPLE THROUGH WORLD MISSIONS IS SUCH AN INTEGRAL PART OF THIS MINISTRY. HOW DID THAT BEGIN? BLACK CYAN Magenta Yellow “I WON’T FORGET YOU ” The Story of a Seemingly Insignificant Encounter That Changed Lives It had been a long day and I was exhausted. The Nepali heat and humidity, combined with a hike into the remote village along the edge of the Himalayas and a full day of shooting disaster relief stories, had taken its toll. So when a small band of girls decided to take me on a tour of their village, I wasn’t so sure I was up to it. But it was soon obvious the choice was not mine. They grabbed my arms, two on each side, and began pulling me uphill while they giggled and chattered, as little girls do. In broken English they told me all about their lives and their experiences when the recent earthquake struck. As they dragged me up and down the dirt paths through the destroyed homes, I quickly realized that tired or not, these are the moments that matter most. Divine appointments that God gives us—memories we never forget. BY GINGER STACHE EEL 0316 8-9 P.indd 8 SPRING 2016 — PAGE 8 — DOM 2/15/16 2:59 PM They sang me a song and though I couldn’t understand a word, the tune was happy. Then they asked me to teach them one, so I began singing “Jesus Loves Me.” They repeated each line after me and soon we were singing together. I told them how impressed I was with their English, and they giggled as I attempted to pronounce their names. We laughed and darted from place to place as they shared story after story. Where did they get this energy? My exhaustion was soon replaced by the joy of these sweet girls. “That is a very nice song,” they said. Then one sweet little girl asked me if I believed in Jesus. I told them all about Him, how He is alive and with us right now and how He loves them very much. She said that her parents don’t believe in Jesus but that since He was my friend, she wanted Him to be hers. Along the way they flitted around like fireflies and picked bouquets of wildflowers for me. Frankly, the flowers were hot and scratchy in my sweaty hands, but I wouldn’t put those flowers down for anything. They were precious gifts. My heart melted. They told me that when the earthquake hit it was “noisy” and “very frightening.” It was a Sunday morning so they were home from school. One said it was, “the most afraid I have ever been. I thought we would all die.” We talked about the church in the village where they could learn more about Jesus. They reminded me that the church had fallen down, but I told them that didn’t matter. The people were still meeting outside and God would never leave them. They said that they were still afraid to sleep inside. I asked how their families and homes were. They said their families survived with some bumps and broken bones. They told me about friends who lost parents and others with crushed arms or legs. As we reached the top of the village, a couple of the girls waved good-bye and ran off on another path. Two of the girls continued the hike with me up the hillside to the main road where we left our vehicles because the dirt road was impassable from monsoon rains. They asked to sing “Jesus Loves Me” again. We sang together until I begged for mercy. “I can’t sing anymore, I’m out of breath.” Once we reached the top, one of the girls showed me her mother’s small store, which survived the earthquake—a miracle in itself. She proudly introduced me, then I went on to our van. Before we left she ran to me one final time to give me another gift, a piece of candy from the store. One last hug good-bye and off she went. “I won’t forget you,” she said. I think of those girls often. I am grateful that our partners sent us to that remote hillside to provide emergency essentials like food and tarps, to rebuild their church building, to remind the people that God will restore their hope, and to tell a tiny band of sweet girls that yes, Jesus loves them. Ginger Stache is the Chief Media Officer for Joyce Meyer Ministries. BLACK As for their houses, they simply clapped their hands together—“flat” they said. “Come, we’ll show you,” and off we went running again. ible difference? Want to make an incred l to give a special gift today. You can. Visit joycemeyer.org/Iwil 9 ENJOYING EVERYDAY LIFE joycemeyer.org EEL 0316 8-9 P.indd 9 SPRING 2016 — PAGE 9 — DOM 2/15/16 3:00 PM Yellow They were quick to point out that they knew I came from far away because my skin was “very light and funny.” We laughed a lot at that. “But beautiful,” they said. I told them they were all very beautiful and I introduced them to the “selfie.” Magenta CYAN They told me that everyone in the village has been sad since the earthquake and how our visit made them happy again. “It’s very kind of you to visit from so far away.” rather than go with them, God wanted to send an angel on His behalf. And Moses wouldn’t agree to that! In Exodus 33:15, Moses said to God, If Your Presence does not go with me, do not carry us up from here! Even after 40 years in the desert, Moses didn’t want the Promised Land without the Promisor. He understood that knowing God was more important than anything he could get from Him. Moses had his priorities straight—he knew God’s presence and favor is what matters most. There’s an old hymn called, “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus.” The lyrics go like this: Turn your eyes upon Jesus Look full in His wonderful face And the things of earth will grow strangely dim In the light of His glory and grace. Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus Yellow When our priorities are straight, we want to know God intimately. We become so captivated by His presence and love that everything else pales in comparison. SOME PEOPLE COME TO CHRIST with their priorities mixed up—they receive Jesus as their Savior so they can go to Heaven, but they are only willing to follow Him if it’s convenient or when it makes sense for them to do so. The sad thing is, they are missing so much of what God has for them because they are more focused on what they can get from God rather than getting to know God intimately. Moses understood the importance of having a personal relationship with God. In Exodus 33, God instructed Moses to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land. There, He promised to protect and prosper them, defeating their enemies. But Magenta CYAN BLACK THE IMPORTANCE OF KNOWING GOD INTIMATELY AND MAINTAINING HEALTHY PRIORITIES If you’re ready to know God intimately, then pray this prayer: Experiencing true intimacy with God, born out of a love so strong it caused Him to sacrifice His only Son for your salvation, is the most precious, amazing gift you can ever have. Because when you have a personal connection with Him, through Christ, it causes everything else to “grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.” During this Easter season, that’s what we’re celebrating. God, I need You. I believe You love me and You sent Your Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for me. I’m ready to begin a new life with Jesus as my Savior AND Lord, so I confess that I’ve made mistakes and I’m sorry for the sin in my life. Teach me how to live the way You want me to live. Jesus, I give my heart to you. Take me as I am, and make me what You want me to be. Congratulations on beginning your new life in Christ! Visit joycemeyer.org/salvation to request a free copy of Joyce’s book A New Way of Living as our gift to you. EEL 0316 10 Salvation EverydayStudy2 P.indd 10 SPRING 2016 — PAGE 10 — DOM 2/15/16 3:05 PM Make Your Relationship with God and His Word Your Top Priority SCRIPTURE Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. STUDY: What are your top 3 priorities in life? Faith, family, finances? Career, education, entertainment, a hobby or special interest? Think about the way you spend your time to determine honestly what matters most to you. Then consider the following questions and scriptures to learn about the things that should be at the top of the list and why. —MATTHEW 6:33 NLT 1. What kind of life did God create you to live? (John 3:16; 10:10; 2 Corinthians 5:17, 21) TIP FROM JOYCE “Approach the Word with reverence and make it a priority. The important thing is to work your schedule around God, rather than work God into your schedule.” —JOYCE MEYER FURTHER STUDY God gives us a strategy to keep our focus on Him and our priorities straight. Study 2 Corinthians 10:4-5, Colossians 3:1-2, Proverbs 18:20-21 and 2 Timothy 2:16 to determine your plan of action. 2. What’s the key to pursuing that life? (Matthew 6:33; John 15:5-12) CYAN 3. What is the common obstacle we all face to getting closer to God and fulfilling His plans for us? How do we overcome it? (Romans 8:5; Galatians 5:16-17) 11 ENJOYING EVERYDAY LIFE joycemeyer.org EEL 0316 10 Salvation EverydayStudy2 P.indd 11 SPRING 2016 — PAGE 11 — DOM 2/15/16 3:07 PM Yellow Magenta For more encouragement in developing a daily time with God in prayer and Bible study, visit us at joycemeyer.org/everydaystudy. Sign up to receive weekly emails that can help you pursue your goal to get closer to God and go deeper in His Word. BLACK GO DEEPER THERE’S LIFE-CHANGING POWER IN GOD’S WORD Take the 3030 Challenge and see how God transforms your life! Bible Study Prepared Me to Face My Pain “ For 36 years I walked in total defeat, really questioning, “Could God possibly be interested in me?” [Then] the 3030 Challenge prepared me for some things I was going to go through. “I fell off a ladder and broke my back in six places and my shoulder in five places. The very first thing that came out of my thoughts when I was lying there and couldn’t move was, I trust You, God, in this situation. I had His peace. I didn’t have to ask Him for that peace when I fell off the ladder—I had it! “He showed me so clearly that spending that time was preparing me for the different things that were going to happen to me—especially falling off that ladder. Study the Word 30 minutes a day and see how God changes your life! “The 3030 Challenge brought me to an amazing encounter—through the Word—of His presence in my life. It’s dramatically changed me!” — Sign up for free ART , LEWISBURG, PA BLACK at joycemeyer.org/ 3030challenge God’s Word Outweighs My Failures “ I’ve been through a lot of downfalls in my life and have always done my best to keep my head up. But ever since I’ve done the 3030 Challenge, I feel that it’s lifted me up even more. Yellow Magenta CYAN “It’s helped me in my walk [with God]. It’s helped me be more patient, more understanding—not to be judgmental. And I just want to learn more and more of the Lord’s Word, pray for wisdom and do my best to show that through my words and actions. “I’m living proof of what God’s Word [can do]. And studying it on a regular basis, what it’s done for me…I’ll continue to do it.” 3030 Challenge 30-Day Devotional, Joyce’s How to Study the Bible DVD and 3 Additional Teachings on DVD by Joyce Meyer $22 / $28 Canada — RANDY , VALLEY FALLS, NY 12 SPRING 2016 (800) 727-9673 / Canada (800) 868-1002 EEL 0316 12-15 P.indd 12 SPRING 2016 — PAGE 12 — DOM 2/16/16 11:28 AM Stressful ? l u f e c a e p WAYS TO HELP YOU MANAGE STRESS AND INCREASE YOUR PEACE Magenta BY JOYCE MEYER Burden. Overload. Stress. SPRING 2016 — PAGE 13 — DOM Yellow Do these words describe the way you feel about life? If that’s the case, I want you to know you’re not alone. And with God’s help, you can change your outlook and overcome your situation. No matter what’s going on around you, you can have a life in Christ filled with peace and joy. EEL 0316 12-15 P.indd 13 CYAN 5 BLACK or 2/16/16 11:39 AM Ev en th ou gh yo u ca n ’ t co nt ro l ev er y si tu at io n yo u fa ce , y ou c a n c on tr ol h ow y ou fa c e it . When you woke up this morning, did you get to choose what the weather would be like today? BLACK doesn’t mean we’re victims of our circumstances. We may not be able to choose what happens in the environment around us, but we can certainly choose how we respond to it. And the decisions we make on a daily basis go a long way in determining the kind of life we are going to live. You can make decisions, and you can take steps, to change how you view your circumstances and how you respond to them. Think of it like this: • If it’s raining outside, you can take care of the inside chores you needed to do but had been putting off. Did you decide how light or heavy traffic would be on your way to work or when you were driving around town running errands? • If traffic is heavy on your normal route, you can choose an alternate route to save time. How about the mood of your spouse or your coworkers? I guess those are kind of silly questions. Neither you nor I get to make those kinds of decisions. If we did, the temperature might be a few degrees warmer, the traffic would certainly be much lighter, the news would be filled with positive, feel-good stories, and our spouses and friends would always be in fantastic moods. Sounds wonderful, doesn’t it? The truth is, we don’t get to make any of those external decisions, but that • If your friend is in a terrible mood, you can lift her spirits by encouraging her rather than letting her mood affect you. Those are some simple examples that illustrate a greater point: Even though you can’t control every situation you face, you can control how you face it. You can take steps to determine what kind of life you are going to live. Here are a few ways to do that... CYAN YOUR FIRST STEPS TO MANAGING STRESS 1 Magenta Yellow When you woke up this morning, you probably made some decisions. You decided how many times to hit the snooze button. You decided what outfit you were going to wear. You decided how many cups of coffee to have. But there were some other decisions you didn’t get to make (even though I bet you wish you could have). Let me show you what I mean… If you constantly feel overwhelmed or under stress and you can’t pinpoint the exact reason, start making some biblical daily confessions. Rather than getting up each day, talking about how bad things are, begin each day declaring God’s Word and His promises over your life. I am more than a conqueror! (Romans 8:37) God will provide for my every need! (Matthew 6:26) I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me! (Philippians 4:13) 14 SPRING 2016 (800) 727-9673 / Canada (800) 868-1002 EEL 0316 12-15 P.indd 14 SPRING 2016 — PAGE 14 — DOM 2/15/16 3:16 PM 4 If a nagging health problem is leaving you feeling stressed out and run down, start an exercise routine. No more excuses. Set aside time each day to get the exercise and care your body desperately needs. Rather than making excuses, make a plan… and stick to it. You may think that you simply don’t have the energy to exercise. You feel too Now Available! Order your copy today These are just a few examples, but as you can see, there are so many ways you can step out in faith in order to live the life Jesus died to give you. God is going to do His part, but He wants you to do your part too. You may not have all the answers and you may not get it right every time, but if you’ll determine to take a step, God is going to meet you along the way. Remember, you don’t have to live a life burdened with stress and frustration. Instead, you can live a happy, peaceful, overcoming life. It’s just a matter of what steps you are going to take. The choice is yours…you decide. This article has been adapted from Overload by Joyce Meyer. Copyright © by Joyce Meyer Ministries. Reprinted with permission of FaithWords, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc. All rights reserved. BLACK If there is someone who is driving up your stress levels by constantly hurting your feelings, do something nice for them— send them a kind note, buy them lunch, tell them something you appreciate about them, or begin praying for them on a regular basis. By doing these little things, you are taking steps of faith and obeying God’s command to love your enemies. OVERLOAD Hardcover $ 22 | $28 Canada CYAN 3 5 If the demands of work are overwhelming and causing you to feel overloaded, do something about it. Delegate some tasks, reevaluate your systems or talk to your boss. (Your boss may not even realize how much you are doing or how it is negatively affecting your personal life.) Instead of complaining how overworked you are, look for ways to be more efficient and how to make the most of your time each day. Also available in Spanish (Paperback) $13.99 Look for it wherever books are sold. JOYCEMEYER.ORG/ overload (800) 727-9673 | (800) 868-1002 CAN 15 ENJOYING EVERYDAY LIFE joycemeyer.org EEL 0316 12-15 P.indd 15 SPRING 2016 — PAGE 15 — DOM 2/15/16 3:17 PM Magenta If your finances are a source of constant stress in your life, decide to start a budget (or reevaluate your current budget). What is something practical you can do to solve the problem? Cut an expense that is a luxury but not a necessity. Look for a new way to make some additional money. Ask someone who is good with finances to take a look at your budget and give you some suggestions. Yellow 2 bad, or you’re too tired. But I often find when I go ahead and begin to exercise that I start to feel better. Exercise takes energy, but it gives you back more energy than it takes! LIFE CAN BE COMPLICATED but learning how to keep it simple and confidently follow God’s lead in every area of your life just got easier…. Discover the simple approach Magenta CYAN BLACK to managing life God’s way, so you can enjoy it every day! NIV BUSY LIFE BIBLE KEEPING IT SIMPLE Leather 5 Teachings on CD by Joyce Meyer $35.99 Yellow $46 CAN EEL 0316 16-17 FeatRes HOH Special Needs P.indd 16 SPRING 2016 — PAGE 16 — DOM $31 $40 CAN 2/15/16 4:04 PM Cynthia Szuka and Joyce at Hand of Hope Center ENDING THE ISOLATION REACHING OUT TO PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS God is using you to help answer her prayer.… Because of your support, we were able to come alongside families of Christ Fellowship to build Hand of Hope Center. Located in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, it’s a place where people with special needs can come to receive therapy, connect with friends, and tap into the gifts God gave them. It’s also a place where anyone can come to learn Because of your support, new connections and discoveries are being made every day. Both as a parent, and as the director of the special needs ministry at Hand of Hope Center, one of Alicia’s greatest desires is to bring awareness, training, and support to churches that are open to disability ministry. “We have young families that are just going through the understanding that one of their children has a disability,” says Alicia. “If they don’t have a community to support them, it brings a lot of isolation. I went through that too.” Through the tangible love of God, poured out through the people around them, special needs families can know…they’re right where they belong. 17 ENJOYING EVERYDAY LIFE joycemeyer.org EEL 0316 16-17 FeatRes HOH Special Needs P.indd 17 SPRING 2016 — PAGE 17 — DOM BLACK “For church communities, wheelchair accessibility is a great first step,” says Alicia. “But a ramp doesn’t have a heart. Wide doors…they don’t have hearts. People are the ones who have hearts. And so that’s what we need…people with hearts being open to love on people with special needs.” CYAN Alicia still remembers how it felt to be a young mother, walking her oldest daughter, Cynthia, who has cerebral palsy, into church on Sunday mornings. “We found time and time again that churchgoers and even leadership were afraid of us because we were visually, physically different,” says Alicia. “Sometimes fear is the barrier that doesn’t allow us to love on other people. My prayer is that those walls will come down.” “As we end isolation in the life of someone with a disability, we share with them the Gospel of Jesus,” says Alicia. “We can do that with Hand of Hope Center.” Magenta Both their daughters are adults now, and they’re part of a loving, caring church community. But it wasn’t always that way. how to build connections with people who have special needs. 2/15/16 4:07 PM Yellow HAVE YOU EVER walked into a room full of people who didn’t want to make eye contact with you? What if it was because one or more of your children has special needs? Juan and Alicia Szuka know the feeling—and they want to help others who are dealing with similar challenges. BLACK CYAN Please give a special gift today! Yellow Magenta Help feed the little girl who would otherwise go home hungry, and rescue the woman who was forced into human trafficking. Help the elderly man who so desperately needs medical attention, and the family who lost everything they owned in a natural disaster. Say, “I Will…” and help someone in their greatest time of need. joycemeyer.org/Iwill EEL 0316 18-19 P.indd 18 (800) 727-9673 SPRING 2016 — PAGE 18 — DOM CAN (800) 868-1002 2/15/16 4:17 PM OFFERING HOPE TO SOCIETY’S OUTCASTS INDIA India Because of their condition, both he and his wife made their living begging on the streets. They’d venture to separate locations in hopes of gathering a little more money to survive on. In leprosy’s early stages, small areas of the body become numb and prone to injury and secondary infection. Instead of part of the body falling off—like many myths have portrayed— a person with leprosy suffers through a long process of injury, infection, pain and amputation. But one day, Marimuthu’s wife went into the bustling city to panhandle…and never returned. It’s been three years. And sadly, he has no idea what happened to his precious wife. But what’s even more devastating is dealing with the incredibly harsh stigma associated with the disease because it’s so misunderstood. People are afraid that if they have any contact with a person who has leprosy they’ll catch it—even though most have a natural immunity to the disease. And in India, to contract leprosy means you’ve almost instantly become one of society’s untouchables. That’s why it touches them so much when someone is willing to reach out and offer them hope. And at the base of a tropical mountain range in Coimbatore, India, Joyce Meyer Ministries, Hand of Hope partners with Embrace a Village to do just that. By looking at his face, you would never know the tragedy he’s been through. This sweet man with a radiant smile now comes to Embrace a Village to receive medical care, as well as rice for him and his son. Marimuthu is just one of almost 800 leprosy patients who are being cared for as we clean their wounds, feed them, provide care for their children during the day and even bury them when they pass away. And all along, we are sharing the Gospel with them and seeing many lives transformed by God’s unconditional love. Thank you so much for helping us share the love of Christ with these beautiful people who have been through so much. If you want to make more smiles like Marimuthu’s, join with us by visiting joycemeyer.org/Iwill today. 19 ENJOYING EVERYDAY LIFE joycemeyer.org EEL 0316 18-19 P.indd 19 SPRING 2016 — PAGE 19 — DOM 2/15/16 4:17 PM CYAN But the painful bacterial disease is very much a reality today for thousands of people in India, as well as many others around the world. Magenta That’s where we met Marimuthu, who came from a nearby leper colony to receive medical care for his hands and feet. Yellow Most people probably think of leprosy as an ancient disease that’s mentioned only in Bible stories and age-old folklore. BLACK BY RACHAEL ATHEARN How do I pray effectively? Why do I do the things I do? ANEWSHOW joycemeyer.org/ea How do I get along with difficult people? How can I heal from the pain of abuse? What does it mean to be led by the Holy Spirit? Why do I keep making the same mistakes? How should I think to be happy? How do I let God fight my bales? Yellow Magenta CYAN BLACK Is it God’s will for me to be________________? What’s the secret to kicking this habit? Is it possible to overcome fear? EEL 0316 20-23 Exec Revisions4 P.indd 20 How do you trust God when bad things happen? SPRING 2016 — PAGE 20 — DOM Why can’t I forgive that person? 2/15/16 4:30 PM NG SHARI T, CHRIS LOVING E PEOPL FINDING FREEDOM I also felt this overwhelming guilt. I never fought with my mother, but the day before the accident, we got into an argument…and I couldn’t say I was sorry. There was never a chance to make things right. About that time, I started drinking. I thought it was going to make me feel better, but it didn’t. It made things worse. And my habit only increased when I became an adult. son? 21 ENJOYING EVERYDAY LIFE joycemeyer.org EEL 0316 20-23 Exec Revisions4 P.indd 21 SPRING 2016— PAGE 21 — DOM 2/15/16 4:30 PM BLACK At that age, I really didn’t understand death or know how to grieve. I just knew I had a loss and I was angry. When I saw my mother in that casket, I got mad. I even remember shouting in my room several times: “I hate God! There is no God to me.” CYAN Following are just a few incredible stories. Whether it’s emotional healing, freedom from a troubled past, or encountering Jesus for the very first time, they all received one of God’s greatest gifts—a new beginning. I’LL NEVER FORGET the day my mother died in a horrible car accident. It was June 16, 1983, and I was only 13 years old. My mom and I were just the closest. She was my life. And when I heard that the person I loved the most was gone—it was devastating. I wanted an answer, and nobody could justify why it happened. Magenta By partnering with Joyce Meyer Ministries, you provide so many of them with the physical and spiritual help they need—things like a hot meal, relief after a storm, and most importantly, the love of Christ and His message of hope. BY AJ GONZALEZ Yellow All around the world, there are people with real needs, with real heartache and pain. They are moms, sisters, grandmas, fathers, husbands… people just like you and me. In 2003, I was driving home along a curvy road after drinking one night when a car pulled out in front of me. The next thing I knew, my front tires hit the curb, the airbag went off, and my hands flew off the wheel. My car went straight into a barrier wall. And that’s when I heard the awful screaming. I got out of my car and a woman told me the most terrible news… I hit a child. I suddenly thought…I’m no better than the person who hit my mother. My mistake landed me in prison, where all I could do was think about what I had done. I was ready to end my life. But a few years into my sentence, something strange happened. CYAN BLACK I returned to my cell and there was this book on my bunk. In prison, nothing’s free without reason. You have to be cautious if something is left with you. So I called the guard over, and I shook that book to make sure nothing was in it. A few hours went by and nothing happened, so it dawned on me to read the title—Battlefield of the Mind by Joyce Meyer. I’d never thought of my mind as a battlefield before, but it made so much sense. I began to read the book. Bits and pieces stuck out to me that I could apply to life in prison. And the more I applied it, the easier it got for me to survive. Eventually, I even found Joyce on TV. Through her, God taught me how to listen to Him. And for the first time in my life, I was happy to be alive. A year after I was released from prison, I attended my first Joyce Meyer conference. It was there that I stood up and accepted Jesus Christ. I knew my life would never be the same. From that moment on, I continued to watch Joyce and even volunteer for her conferences. I choose to volunteer to let others know how great God is and what He can do for people. I know if it wasn’t for the partners of Joyce Meyer Ministries, Joyce’s books wouldn’t be reaching people in prisons, and she wouldn’t be able to help others through TV. That’s how I was helped and given the opportunity to have a second chance, and I’m so appreciative of that. That’s also why I now partner with the ministry. Because I knew in my heart, I was going to do what it takes to help others realize that everybody’s worth a second or third chance—whatever chance they need. “ IT’S SO AMAZING HOW every obstacle in my life TO REACH ME! GOD BROKE Yellow “ Magenta THROUGH -MARCY ROYAL EEL 0316 20-23 Exec Revisions4 P.indd 22 SPRING 2016 — PAGE 22 — DOM 2/15/16 4:31 PM The guilt I felt was devastating. My sense of self-worth was non-existent, and life had no real value to me. I became emotionally numb and hardened my heart so no one could get truly close to me. Eventually, the hate in my heart made me suicidal. Convinced I was a lost cause, I remember thinking, I’m going to hell anyway, so what does it matter? At 19, I found myself in a mentally abusive marriage, which ended a few years later; however, the good thing that came out of this relationship was my daughter, Chelsea. Sadly, I still had no sense of self-worth, and this caused me to get into another abusive marriage. But being a good mom who protected her child was important to me, and this kept me going. EEL 0316 20-23 Exec Revisions4 P.indd 23 At this time, I worked in an office with a Christian woman and we began carpooling together. We became friends, and a few months later, she and her husband led me to the Lord. This was the beginning of my journey to restoration through Christ. It’s so amazing how God broke through every obstacle in my life to reach me! As I continued to walk with Him, He led me to the right marriage relationship and a healthy church family, where I got the support I needed to be honest about my past and get free from the guilt, condemnation and shame that held me for so long. I also discovered Joyce Meyer’s teaching along the way, and God used her to help me see that forgiveness for every sin is truly available for anyone who is willing to receive it. Today, I’m married to a godly man who serves the Lord, a stay-at-home mother of four children and I lead a women’s ministry at my church. My heart’s desire is to lead women out of bondage and teach them about having a personal relationship with Christ. When we experience true freedom, the hunger for Christ becomes contagious, and then we can raise up world changers. I know it’s possible for them because of everything He’s done for me. And I’m determined to do everything He’s calling me to do. Wherever He’s going, I’m going with Him! SPRING 2016 — PAGE 23 — DOM MIDDLE OF THE night It was 3 a.m. and I couldn’t sleep. I was actually contemplating suicide. My life was full of depression, darkness, loneliness and confusion, with pain so deep and no one to turn to. That’s when I flipped on the TV and saw your program for the first time. Joyce was speaking on emotional healing, and the more I watched, the more her pain sounded like mine. I began to sob uncontrollably and begged God for help. I immediately felt a calm like I had never experienced in my life. It was then that I gave my life to God! There have been some tough times since that night, but now I know that God is always on my side. -DEANNA JOHNSON Wisconsin Through partnership with Joyce Meyer Ministries, you can share the message of Christ, meet critical needs, and provide hope to thousands in search of a new beginning. Will you join us? Your support will make the difference for people all around the world…people just like you and me. BLACK Because I hadn’t learned what a healthy relationship looked like, I ended up in my own dysfunctional relationships, and as a result, had three abortions before I was 21. I had given in to the lie: If you’re pregnant and alone, abortion is a quick, easy solution that’s no big deal. But the truth is, it was just the beginning of a downward spiral that made my life a living hell. Looking back, I can see how God began to rescue me through my relationship with Chelsea. My desire to protect her from harm led me to put her in a Christian school during kindergarten, first and second grades. When I helped her with her homework, I began to learn about God through the Bible stories she had. She had such a compassion and love for the Lord that tenderized my heart. Many times she would say things like, “Mommy, you can have salvation if you would just ask Jesus into your heart.” CYAN MY CHILDHOOD can best be described as one of brokenness. As a result of alcoholism, infidelity and divorce, I grew up in an unhealthy, and sometimes unsafe environment. From the age of 7 to 14, I was sexually abused, and by the time I was 18, I was a mess with severe rejection issues. IN THE Magenta BY MARCY ROYAL BECOME A PARTNER TODAY. joycemeyer.org/ partnership 2/15/16 4:31 PM Yellow FINDING A LOVE THAT SAVED MY LIFE Changes: Oh, the Possibilites! Yellow Magenta CYAN BLACK DARE TO BELIEVE GOD CAN TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE EEL 0316 24-31 Bonus America Letter Guest Overload3 P.indd 24 SPRING 2016 — PAGE 24 — DOM 2/15/16 4:34 PM Sadly, many times people don’t believe they can be completely changed. And often they don’t believe other people “It’s time to start expecting more from God than you’ve ever believed He would do for you before.” But Jeremiah 29:11 says God’s thoughts and plans for us are for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome. He has a good plan for you, and you can dare to believe He can heal you anywhere you hurt and help you with every problem you face. It’s time to start expecting more from God than you’ve ever believed He would do for you before. The key to having what God wants you to have is learning to think like He thinks. And Romans 12:2 teaches that we are transformed by the renewing of our minds. I’ve discovered several ways we need to change our thinking so we can live with the mind of the Holy Spirit (see Romans 8:6). 25 ENJOYING EVERYDAY LIFE joycemeyer.org EEL 0316 24-31 Bonus America Letter Guest Overload3 P.indd 25 SPRING 2016 — PAGE 25 — DOM 2/15/16 4:34 PM BLACK The Holy Spirit comes to live in us, and He works in us—transforming our mind, will and emotions—so we become more like Jesus day by day. As we grow spiritually, the good work that’s happening inside us can be seen through the way we live, and we become testimonies of what God has done. The question is, what are you expecting God to do for you? Maybe you’re having a hard time believing that your kids can change, your marriage can improve or that you can ever lose weight, get a better job or get completely out of debt. CYAN To be transformed means you are changed entirely from the inside out. When we become born-again Christians, 2 Corinthians 5:17, says we are a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come! can change. But the only thing that never changes is God (see Hebrews 13:8). And He wants us to dare to believe that He is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams] (Ephesians 3:20). Magenta M y father became a Christian when he was 83 years old. There were many times throughout the years when I thought, He will never change! But I kept praying for him. And thank God, eventually, he did change—he experienced the greatest transformation of all. Yellow BY JOYCE MEYER We need to change our thinking about… God. It’s so important for us to know who God really is. He’s not an angry God, and He’s not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant...(Matthew 11:30). God loves you, and if you know how much He loves you right now, then you’ll have hope that the things in your life that need to change can be changed. Ourselves. If you don’t like How to Survive Change 4 Teachings on CD by Joyce Meyer $26 BLACK $33 Canada yourself, you’re going to have difficulty in every area of your life. Don’t demand perfection from yourself. No one is perfect, and no matter what we do, we usually don’t think it’s enough: We don’t pray enough, work hard enough, study the Bible enough, etc. God spoke to my heart one day and told me, “Joyce, you’re never enough, but I’m always more than enough.” That’s why Jesus came! Believe that in Christ, there’s more right than wrong with you, and you can do whatever you need to do in life through Him (see 2 Corinthians 5:21; John 15:5; Philippians 4:13). Trials, or the hard, painful things we go through in life. Habakkuk 3:19 says God is our strength and He will help us to walk [not to stand still in terror, but to walk] and make [spiritual] progress upon [our] high places [of trouble, suffering, or responsibility]! James 1:2-4 encourages us to consider it wholly joyful…whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials, because the trial and proving of your faith are what God works through to make us fully developed…lacking in nothing. The level of importance we put on what others think about us. It’s easy to let what others do and say affect us, and to feel like, If you don’t like me, my day is ruined. But the truth is, if we’re more concerned with being a people-pleaser than a God-pleaser, we won’t become what God created us to be and do what He’s calling us to do (see Galatians 1:10). Yellow Magenta CYAN I want to encourage you to study scriptures that reveal God’s true character and His heart for you. And dare to believe that there’s nothing in your life He can’t change—including you! medical volunteers needed for upcoming trips EEL 0316 24-31 Bonus America Letter Guest Overload3 P.indd 26 Are you looking for an opportunity to serve on a short-term medical/dental outreach? Here’s your chance. Come be a part of a once-in-a-lifetime experience and provide care for those who need it most. Lives will be changed, including your own. joycemeyer.org/medicalmissions SPRING 2016 — PAGE 26 — DOM SOUTH AFRICA Apr 21-May 1 DOMINICAN REPUBLIC May 21-28 ZAMBIA June 2-12 NIGER Aug 5-14 *Schedule is subject to change. 2/15/16 4:34 PM WHAT MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW ABOUT THE RISE OF AMERICA’S COUNTER-CULTURE WHEN TALKING ABOUT AMERICA, there’s one question I hear a lot: “How did we get here?” BY DAVE MEYER It’s easy for people to recognize our nation’s drastic moral decline. Wherever you look, God has been removed from our government and nearly every aspect of society. facts and practical knowledge. It rejects history, tradition, and cultural and moral values in favor of “diversity” and “tolerance.” 2 Little by little, they chipped away at the moral fiber initiated by our Founding Fathers. The results were devastating. By the 1960’s, it erupted into a full-on counter-culture revolution, resulting in flag-burning and anti-American sentiment. Young people openly rejected the morals of our past and embraced the feel-good experiences of the present, leading to increased drug use and immorality. But it didn’t happen overnight… So, what did they teach? Dewey’s method was to place greater value on physical and emotional experiences over 28 I believe the president thought he was doing the right thing. However, in order to create the New Deal, we had to get rid of “the old deal,” which was God’s deal. God’s deal was for Christians to meet the needs of the people. God designed us—the Church—to show forth our love and take this responsibility. After the New Deal was enacted, this responsibility shifted from the Church to the government. The love of the Church grew cold…and remained that way for decades. 1. Carol Sewell, “What Were They Thinking? On Truth, Liberty and Legacy,” G2g Publishing, 2009, p. 208-209. 2. Jim Nelson Black, “When Nations Die,” Jim Nelson Black and Alive Communications, 1994, p. 86. 3. Sewell, p. 209. EEL 0316 24-31 Bonus America Letter Guest Overload3 P.indd 27 SPRING 2016 — PAGE 27 — DOM 27 ENJOYING EVERYDAY LIFE joycemeyer.org 2/15/16 4:35 PM CYAN Out with “the Old” — In the early 1930’s, America was also still reeling from the Great Depression. As a result, President Franklin Roosevelt created the New Deal, a series of government programs designed to bail out our struggling nation and meet the needs of the people. BLACK It’s just like the frog who was slowly boiled to death in the pot of water. The temperature was increased slowly, little by little, and it never realized what was happening. Likewise, the assault on our traditional values has been slow but sure, and it’s hard to overemphasize the damage that’s been done. Magenta Dewey is known as “the father of modern education.” However, most people don’t know that he co-authored Humanistic Manifesto I, and with the help of his friends throughout American universities, he strategically placed thousands of these men in teaching positions—specifically in education and journalism. He knew the most effective way to instill his worldview into millions of Americans was through the classroom and the media. 1 Let’s fast-forward to present day. Many of those young people are now the university presidents, professors, and authors of our children’s textbooks. And we wonder why our history has been distorted and rewritten! 3 Yellow Seeds of the 60’s Revolution — The plan to undermine America’s moral and spiritual roots started in 1933. To escape Hitler, a group of Marxist German intellectuals came to America at the invitation of John Dewey, who was on staff at Columbia University. “The Church can either stand up and fight or lay down and die…but it can’t stay the same and survive.” A Crisis of Conscience — Another major development occurred in 1947. Most people have never heard the name Hugo Black. However, Judge Black decided that the first amendment of the Constitution says there is to be a wall of separation between the church and the state. The truth is that our Constitution does not say that. Here’s the saddest part about it: The judicial branch of our government cannot make laws. Only Congress— the legislative body—can do that. However, Judge Black made that decision and, out of ignorance, we allowed it to become a law. Why did Satan want this separation? Because the Church is the conscience of our country. When he shut out the Church, he shut down our conscience. Forward Thinking Magenta CYAN BLACK We didn’t succeed by accident. Discover the 28 principles that made America great. The 5000 Year Leap Paperback by W. Cleon Skousen Yellow $19.95 U.S. Funds We Didn’t Have a Prayer — What happened with Judge Black is the perfect example of how our enemy operates: Satan will work where there is no opposition. It happened again in 1962, when he used one person—just one person—to get prayer taken out of schools. Tragically, the Church stood by silently and watched it happen. Sure, there were a few who made some noise, but no real action was taken. In the 50’s and 60’s, the envelope was pushed even further when our government (under pressure from special interest groups) began to remove all references to God and stories of our godly heritage from our history books. I’ll never forget watching the news several years ago. The news anchor was upset about a current event and asked, “Where is God in all of this?” Almost without thinking, I exclaimed, “Right where we put Him!” What did I mean? We have pushed God out of our history, out of our country, and out of our government. Then when things go wrong, we wonder why it’s all happening. The truth is, God goes where He’s invited, stays where His reputation is protected, but leaves when He is rejected. God alone is the reason why the United States has become one of the most blessed nations on earth. However, we can’t continually push Him away and expect to enjoy His blessings and protection. So, What Do We Do Now? — I encourage you to become a student of our nation’s true godly history. Read how our Founding Fathers invited the Lord into every aspect of their lives and government. Unless we are educated about our past and how we got here, we cannot take responsibility. Our rights can only be maintained by Christians following their civic responsibilities. Then it’s important to take action. Vote for godly leaders and hold them accountable; participate in civil government as opportunities allow and not leave it up to someone else. Most importantly, seek God and ask Him what to do—then do it! He has a unique plan for every one of us, and you’ll be amazed at what He shows you. Friends, it’s time to take up this fight. Because the truth is, the Church can either stand up and fight or lay down and die…but it can’t stay the same and survive. The good news is, God is greater than the enemy. We cannot do God’s part, and He will not do our part. But if we’ll take steps to learn and do our part, then we will see things change for the future of America. 28 SPRING 2016 (800) 727-9673 / Canada (800) 868-1002 EEL 0316 24-31 Bonus America Letter Guest Overload3 P.indd 28 SPRING 2016 — PAGE 28 — DOM 2/15/16 4:35 PM SUPER WOMAN —OR— BLACK SUPER NATURAL? CYAN BY CHRISTINE CAINE My aspirations of becoming a superhero came to naught, as countless other little girls’ dreams have. But aren’t there days in our lives when we feel like we have to be Super Woman if we’re going to get through it alive? Sometimes it can 29 ENJOYING EVERYDAY LIFE joycemeyer.org EEL 0316 24-31 Bonus America Letter Guest Overload3 P.indd 29 SPRING 2016 — PAGE 29 — DOM 2/15/16 4:35 PM Yellow Magenta I always dreamed of being Wonder Woman. I tried jumping off my garage roof a few times when I was younger, complete with a cape and my underwear on the outside of my pants, only to get to the roof and realize I’ve always been scared of heights. I thought Wonder Woman could do anything; and those gold wristbands—if only I had a pair of them—I could achieve the impossible! seem like everybody wants a piece of you: Your kids want lunch and want to be driven to sports training, your boss needs that report, your mom says you never visit, your friend is on the phone because her marriage is in crisis, you have bills to pay, dinner to cook, and when you finally think the day is over and you climb under the covers, your husband wants to make love! The “secret” I’m about to reveal won’t eliminate these kinds of days (disappointing, I know), but it will take the stress out of living through them. The secret (drum roll, please) is, you don’t have to be Super Woman; you just need to be supernatural! I understand that for some of us, simply reading about this Proverbs 31 woman can make us feel tired, weary, and stretched to capacity. Rather than motivating us, she only serves to remind us of how much we are not doing. However, I see this woman not as a superhero but rather as one who sets the standard for every Christian woman. In the midst of a normal life, she discovered a secret—the God factor—and came to realize she didn’t need to be superhuman at all, but supernaturally empowered by the Holy Spirit. Through His strength, wisdom and endurance, she was able to have and do her “all.” As a result, Magenta CYAN BLACK In Proverbs 31, we see a picture of a supernatural woman. This woman was an excellent wife and mother, she worked diligently, provided food for her family, arose early in the morning, was an entrepreneur, she dressed immaculately, helped the poor and the needy, and was wise, kind, strong and dignified. The fact that this woman exists in the Bible, and long before cell phones, computers and dishwashers, shows us that we can have and do it all in life without having a nervous breakdown. within the context of her family and her world, she enlarged her capacity to live the abundant life God wanted her to live. And this abundant “Proverbs 31” life is exactly what God deeply desires for every one of His girls. He wants us to learn how to tap into the supernatural empowerment of the Holy Spirit because this is the only way we will be able to fulfill our God-purpose and destiny without burning out or giving up along the way. The Holy Spirit is the helper Jesus promised would be with us always, and He will enable us to live the supernatural life. With Him and through Him, we really can be like the Proverbs 31 woman and be able to have and do it all, despite the screaming children, traffic jams, work deadlines, sleep deprivation, laundry piles, date nights...and the list continues. God’s “all” for your life is right before you, ready to be seized, enjoyed, to bring you tremendous fulfillment, and stretch you to your limits! You absolutely can have and do it all, and live the life you’ve dreamed of...if you understand that your “all” will be a journey of a lifetime, and that sometimes your “all” can shift and morph when you least expect it. No matter where you are in life right now, where you’ve come from, or what you may have experienced, God has an “all” designed specifically for you to embrace so you can become a force that can change your world! This article is excerpted from Christine’s book, Can I Have And Do It All, Please? Yellow SEE CHRISTINE CAINE LIVE AT OUR 2016 WOMEN’S CONFERENCE. REGISTER TODAY AT JOYCEMEYER.ORG/LOVELIFE EEL 0316 24-31 Bonus America Letter Guest Overload3 P.indd 30 SPRING 2016 — PAGE 30 — DOM 2/15/16 4:36 PM BLACK CYAN Magenta Stressed out and overwhelmed? With Joyce’s new book, you can learn how to unplug, unwind and unleash yourself from the pressure of stress. now available! Order your copy today! See page 15 for details. EEL 0316 24-31 Bonus America Letter Guest Overload3 P.indd 31 SPRING 2016 — PAGE 31 — DOM joycemeyer.org/OVERLOAD 2/15/16 4:36 PM Yellow that won’t change. But you can change how you approach the stresses of life. Events ONGOING CLASSROOMS OF HOPE MINISTRY UPDATES & MORE expanding our feeding programs in this area to provide Classrooms of Hope — container-style classrooms where teachers can teach and kids can learn comfortably. Over the next two years, our goal is to complete at least 20 new classrooms. 22 WORLD WATER DAY Some refreshing news... Together, we’ve tapped into a great way to share the Gospel. Thank you for helping us give these kids a chance to learn about God’s love for them, and break free from the cycle of poverty! W ELLS & FILT ERS provide safe, sanitary drinking water. EASTER But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid…He has risen, just as He said [He would]...” MATTHEW 28:5-6 Celebrate Christ’s resurrection, and what His unending love means for your life today. MARCH 10 27 WAT ER TA NKS THRU 12 store clean water for use during outages. JOYCE MEYER CONFERENCE Yellow Magenta CYAN BLACK Winston-salem, North carolina What if your school was crumbling? Many kids in the Eastern Cape of South Africa go to school in rundown buildings that are sadly, unsafe. So we’re 12 More than 750 W ELL PROJECTS THRU 19 MEDICAL MISSIONS Haiti Partnering with Love A Child to provide much-needed medical/ dental care in Haiti. Join us in prayer! have been completed so far, saving lives and making life easier for people in impoverished areas all over the world. Find out more at joycemeyer.org/ handofhope 32 SPRING 2016 (800) 727-9673 / Canada (800) 868-1002 EEL 0316 32-33 P.indd 32 SPRING 2016 — PAGE 32 — DOM 2/15/16 4:40 PM Join the conversation Q How has God’s Word transformed you? #3030CHALLENGE @joycemeyer /joycemeyerministries | 10 THRU 17 NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK WE YOU! A HUGE THANKS to all of the volunteers who make our conferences and world missions outreaches possible. So glad you joined our team. We could NEVER do it without you! Loving people and asking nothing in return is the key to opening their hearts to the lifesaving message of Christ. Because of your support, we have the privilege to do this continually through our medical/dental outreaches. Thank you for being part of the healing God is doing every day! on Mother’s Day 21 THRU MAY 1 MEDICAL MISSIONS South Africa 1 Take a selfie with your amazing mom. 2 Share it on socials, with a few thankful comments. And don’t forget to share it with us! (We think your mom is amazing too.) Just add our ministry hashtag to your #mothersday message! #joycemeyerministries 21 MAY Dominican Republic THRU 7 JOYCE MEYER CONFERENCE dallas, Texas THRU 28 MEDICAL MISSIONS Returning to the Dominican Republic to provide medical/dental care in partnership with Love A Child. Let’s pray for the Dominican Republic! For more information on upcoming conferences, visit joycemeyer.org/events. EEL 0316 32-33 P.indd 33 Grand Rapids, Michigan STEP Returning to South Africa to provide much-needed medical/dental care. Join us in prayer! 5 JOYCE MEYER CONFERENCE SPRING 2016 — PAGE 33 — DOM Last winter, when recordhigh flood waters devastated Missouri homes and businesses, your support made it possible for us to help numerous families clean up and begin to rebuild. Thank you for supplying help and hope when they needed it most. Stay tuned for more details! 33 ENJOYING EVERYDAY LIFE joycemeyer.org 2/15/16 4:40 PM BLACK 7 YOUR HEART THRU 21 CYAN THRU 16 Oklahoma city, Oklahoma WORLD HEALTH DAY Share 19 STEP JOYCE MEYER CONFERENCE APRIL MOTHER’S DAY Magenta 14 8 Yellow How has God’s love changed your life? Q WHETHER YOU WANT TO LEARN about God’s Word, LAUGH and be refreshed, or WORSHIP and meet with Jesus…Just show up! God will make the weekend unforgettable. WHAT PEOPLE ARE saying /joycemeyerministries @joycemeyer CYAN BLACK (866) SEE-JOYCE Yellow Magenta We LEARN MORE ONLINE! 34 See ya there! SEPT / OCT / NOV 2015 (800) 727-9673 / Canada (800) 868-1002 FOR TRAVEL DISCOUNTS AND DETAILS, VISIT: EEL 0316 34-35 P.indd 34 joycemeyer.org/conference SPRING 2016 — PAGE 34 — DOM 2/16/16 10:23 AM “S U g APRIL 14-16 MAY 5-7 OKLAHOMA CITY, OK “So much fun—great message!” —MAIZIE PFIZENMAYER Atlanta, GA Conference DALLAS, TX MAY 19-21 GRAND RAPIDS, MI “You are right. It’s way different than watching you on TV. God truly showed up here this weekend.” —KAYHRYN BROWN Tacoma, WA Conference ries “Something SUDDENLY happened last night! IT WAS LIFE-CHANGING! Too much to put into words.” —DAVID EATON Orlando, FL Conference BLACK E WINSTON-SALEM, NC “There is so much that goes on before the show and after that just gets to you deep in your soul. My friends were so moved by the Spirit and couldn’t thank me enough for inviting them.” CYAN T MAR 10-12 Save the dat! —DEBRA GRAY Orlando, FL Conference Magenta ord, d, or with p! kend “Joyce Meyer Conference.” Yellow —MARIA JARAMILLO Hershey, PA Conference EEL 0316 34-35 P.indd 35 SPRING 2016 — PAGE 35 — DOM 2/16/16 10:21 AM SAVE 15% NOW! SEPT 29 - OCT 1 | ST. LOUIS Yellow Magenta CYAN BLACK NDS EARLY BIRD E 6 MAY 31, 201 JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES Life is not a dress rehearsal… This world needs you! Come discover how to live on purpose, and seize the opportunities God brings you each day. joycemeyer.org/lovelife Ladies, this weekend is just for you! EEL 0316 36 Back Cover WC16 P.indd 36 (888) 727-5280 (U.S. and Canada) (636) 349-0303 (International) Go on, girl! EARLY BIRD PRICING THROUGH MAY 31, 2016 $59 / Reg. $69 U.S. Funds Spring 2016 // DOM BC1 // Domestic // Page 36 2/17/16 10:09 AM
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